Jovie Ming's birthday

Today our little girl is a big two year old... and I feel like that phrase should have a few of these (!!!!!!) but my heart does not feel like that. I am sad today to miss knowing the precious last two years and not being the one that got to go get her up this morning, kiss her sweet cheeks, and make her a special breakfast. I can not explain what it feels like to long for these children.  My mom said it very well in calling it a fast... because when you fast you are hungry, and that hunger reminds you to remain in prayer. There is just not another time in my life than adopting (Mae and this time) that I have prayed more fervently... because God is my only link to them. I am so grateful to know throughout this process that God loves these children first. 

I am watching a beautiful love story before my eyes... as I am waiting, longing and loving these children God is reminding me that it is with a greater love and longing that HE pursues us all. And today I know that we received a very awesome view of that LOVE : This afternoon we received our TRAVEL APPROVAL from China. 

Thank you God for the perfect birthday gift. 

Maybe I should repeat this for those of you that skim... WE GOT TRAVEL APPROVAL!!!!

So last night I was in tears, and tonight I am making packing lists. We very likely will be leaving for China January 15-17 and getting our babies on January 20!!!!!!!!!!! We should know for sure after we get our Consulate appointment, which should come on Monday. WOW! 

I wanted to make something special for Jovie for her birthday and I so I made her this little doll. I saw baby be blessed dolls and got the idea to add a verse to Jovie's doll. It was so neat to be able to find her a verse.

 

 Mae and I mixed and baked cupcakes to celebrate and shared them with our friends today (Lyn and Sheila and their kiddos). I love each of these sweeties!!!

Tonight we had our own celebration again... for the life of our girl and that we will all be together very soon.

We ask more than ever for you to join with us and pray for this upcoming time. It will be joyous but seem very traumatic to Ian and Jovie... and possibly Mae. These children will undergo HUGE change and great loss. In order to gain a family, they will have to lose everything they know.

Thank you friends.

Well Overdue Update

So I know it's been months... and I'm sorry!  Life has been so nuts.

So to quickly fill you in, at the end of September we put our house up for sale. It was not something we had planned on doing... in fact, our plan all along has been to move in spring after we got everyone home and settled after Jovie's surgery. Several friends told us within days of each other that moving in spring after the kids came home would not be a good idea.  So we prayed about it and put our house for sale knowing it would have to sale super-quick if we were going to make it work. We had 4 people interested in the house and had a bidding war with offers and it sold for what we wanted. The people that we sold our house to bought with cash and closed so fast I only had ONE week to pack up our house (that we've lived in for 10 years, mind you, we have collected a lot of stuff!) Okay, even now it's amazing to me! Praise goes to God!

We found another house that is everything we've ever wanted - beautiful house in a perfect location, it has a yard for the kids, and a driveway that they will be able to ride their bikes on. We moved in on October 18 and every day here I wake up in amazement that it all took place. I wonder when it will finally sink in?

We did not realize that moving would mean that another homestudy had to take place, though, and an amendment to our I-800 ): we thought that since we were past China's acceptance we would be good... It put us back a little more- boo! But everything has been done and resubmitted and right now we are on the LAST item. Our Article 5 should come on Monday, and it's then sent to Beijing for (drum roll!!!!!!)

TRAVEL APPROVAL! 

When we get our travel approval, we will book our tickets. Our agency has estimated that we will be there January 15. Chinese New Year is at the end of January and if our travel approval does not come quickly enough, we will be have to wait until after the Chinese New Year.

I know to everyone else this is just a few weeks... but to us it's so important.  PLEASE I ask you for your prayers that we would be there before Chinese New Year and have these sweet children home in February.

 

Two nights ago I got this gorgeous girl's photographs and a short update. When I saw this picture of her, it quite literally took my breath away. 

She loves to run and play with her friends! She is also an expert at watching those around her and copying their actions and repeating their words! One of her favorite people to copy has been her nurse Ednalyn! Ming Yu follows her around during daily rounds and tries to do all the things her nurse does! Ming Yu also recently started preschool. Although she was a bit shy at first, she has warmed up to the idea and now enjoys going.

We also just learned that Jovie has been at Maria's Big House of Hope. This is such a great place, and is specifically build for orphans with special needs. There are doctors on staff there and I know that she has received the absolute best care. It is such a blessing to know she has been in a place like this.

Very soon I will be kissing those cheeks!!!  I can't hardly stand it any longer!!! I want us to be together, as it should be. 

New Pictures of Ian

I have 2 new pictures of our sweet boy. He is melting me with those cheeks— every time I see his pictures I think how I can not wait to kiss on them!!! I love this little boy so much I could burst! And soon he will know that! 
 

 

Dragon Boat Festival

This weekend we were able to go for the second year to the Dragon Boat Festival.  It is so much fun to be a part of the festivities. We love this opportunity to celebrate a little Asian culture with our girl and a few special China friends. Mae, Amie and Mia. 

Aren't these the cutest little friends holding hands?

I just looked back to see our pictures from last year and I can not believe how much Mae has grown up in a year!

LOA!!!!

We received these two very beautiful pieces of paper yesterday from China. This means we have LOA - "letters of Acceptance" from China. This is a very big milestone in our process and we are jumping up and down for joy!!! From here things will move fast! We will be in China sometime between November to December. 

Seeing these papers with our children's names next to ours made me very emotional. We are theirs and they are ours. FOREVER!